Automatic fan



(No Model.)

J.T.VANN. AUTOMATIC FAN.

No. 513,288. 'Patented Jan. 23, 1894.

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UNTTED STATES ATENT @sricn.

JOHN THOMAS VANN, OF LEXINGTON, NORTH CAROLINA.

AUTOMATIC FAN.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 513,288, dated January23, 1894:.

Application filed July 24, 1893;

To coZZ whom it may concern.-

Be it known that 1, JOHN THOMAS VANN, a citizen of the United States,residing at LeX- ington, in the county of Davidson and State of NorthCarolina, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in AutomaticFans; and I do hereby declare the following to be a full, clear, andexact description of the invention, such as will enable others skilledin the art to which it appertains to make and use the same.

My invention relates to that class of devices known as automatic fans toagitate or produce a current of air for cooling persons or for drivingaway flies.

My invention consists in a novel combination and arrangement of partswhereby a vi-' bratory motion is imparted to the fans or agitators.

It further consists in a novel manner of changing the angles of the fanor agitator arm relative to their operating shaft whereby the angle ofcurrent may be changed, or the length of stroke, and consequent strengthof draft increased or diminished at will.

It further consists in certain novel combinations and arrangement ofparts, all as hereinafter described.

In the accompanying drawings Figure 1 is a horizontal section of thecasing for inclosing the gearing and also the guide tube with the fan orbrush arms and operating rod in full lines, also showing the sleeves orcollars for supporting the arms,in section,and showing a face view ofthe gearing, the section be ing taken on the line a: m, Fig. 2. Fig. 2is a transverse vertical section enlarged of the upper portion of thecasing, showing the gearing in full lines and also the lower portion ofthe reciprocating rod. Fig. 3 is an enlarged plan or top view of thesleeve or collar to which the arms of the fans or agitators areconnected.

The base, A, is preferably made of metal, having any desired ornamentaloutline or configuration, and of such form as to receive the gearing andof such weight as to form a solid support. The upper portion of the caseis extended into tubular form, as shown at A, to form a guideway orbearing for the reciprocating rod, B, for actuating the fan or brusharms hereinafter referred to. An adjustable sleeve, 0, is mounted on therod, B, and adapted Serial No. 481,264. (No model.)

' to be secured and held in any desired position thereon by means of aset screw, a, and which sleeve has formed integral therewith orotherwise connected thereto, lugs, a, to which the inner ends of thearms for supporting the fans or brushes are pivotally connected. A similar sleeve, D, is mounted on the tubularguide, A, made adjustable andheld by means of a set screw, (1.

Mounted on the fan or brush arms, or levers, are sleeved lugs, b, towhich are connected links, 5, which links in turn are pivotallyconnectedwith the logs of the sleeve D. By this combination of parts it will beseen that as the rod, B, is reciprocated that the fan or brush arms willhave a vibratory motion imparted thereto, and when the parts areadjusted relatively, as shown in the drawings, that a direct upward anddownward current will beproduced. WVhen, however, it is desired tochange the length of stroke or the angle of current, either in adirection to and from the base or more nearly horizontal, or at anupward inclination, it can be accomplished by adjusting the sleeves, Gand D, either to or from each other to a greater or less degree. Thus itwill be seen that the currentmay be directed at different angles or thelength of stroke varied, and as a consequence, a greater or less draftupon the person or upon the article or articles to be kept free fromflies. By this means also the fans or brushes may be closed up when notin use.

Mounted on the guide, A, isa spring catch, F, for engaging a recess ornotch in the rod A, for stopping the machine and holding it outofaction. The gearing for reciprocating the rod and imparting thevibratory motion to the fans or brushes consists of a train of gears,actuated by a spring in which Gr represents the main or winding shaft onwhich the spring is mounted and to which is secured a large gear ordriving wheel, G, which gear meshes with and communicates motion to apinion, G on a shaft, '11. This shaft, H, has also mounted thereon anenlarged gear-wheel, G which in turn meshes with and communicates motionto a pinion, G Mounted on the shaft of the pinion, Gflis athree-wiugedcam, I, the arms of which are of equal length, which engageswith and reciprocates the rod B, in the following manner: To the end ofthe rod B, are connected friction rollers, h, which are arranged at suchdistance apart as to permit the cam to move between them or to follow ortravel over the peripheral faces of the wings or arms thereof, by whichit will be seen that three reciprocations will be imparted to the rod ateach revolution of the cam shaft.

Other forms of gearing may be employed to impart a reciprocating motionto the rod and like modifications may be made in the construction andarrangement of other parts without departing from the spirit or intentof my invention.

The ends of the fan arms may be provided with sockets, K, having setscrews, 7t, 'to permit the use or substitution of diiferent forms offans or agitators.

Parts of the device not herein particularly described may be constructedin any usual or preferred way.

Having now described my invention, what I claim as new, and desire tosecure by Letters Patent, is-- 1. In an automatic fan, a rod adapted tohave a reciprocating motion imparted thereto, arms pivotally connectedtherewith, and links connected at one end to the arms and having a fixedconnection relative to the reciprocating rod, substantially as and forthe purpose set forth.

2. In an automatic fan, a rod adapted to have a reciprocating motionimparted thereto, arms pivotally and adjustably connected therewith, anadjustable sleeve connected independently of the rod, and linksconnecting the arms and sleeve, substantially as and for the purpose setforth.

3. In an automatic fan, a rod adapted to have a reciprocating mot-ionimparted thereto,

a bearing therefor, an adjustable sleeve 40 mounted on the rod, fan oragitator arms connected thereto, an adjustable sleeve mounted on thebearing, adjustable sleeves mounted on the fan or agitator arms, andlinks connecting with the sleeves on the bearing and on the arms,substantially as and for the purpose set forth.

4. In an automatic fan, a reciprocating rod,

a supporting sleeve therefor, fan arms connected to the rod and sleeve,a cam snbstan- 5o tially as described for reciprocating the rod andmechanism for rotating the cam to impart a reciprocating motion to therod to vibrate the fan blades, as set forth.

In testimony whereof I affix my signature in 5 5 presence of twowitnesses.

JOHN THOMAS VANN.

Witnesses:

W. J. BYERLY, (J. E. W. WALL.

